UK Transport & Connectivity API — Station Proximity, Accessibility & Connectivity Scoring
Transport connectivity determines commercial viability. A warehouse 5 minutes from a motorway junction is worth twice one 30 minutes away. A retail unit near a busy train station commands premium rents. But quantifying connectivity requires cross-referencing NaPTAN stop data, rail station locations, and regional transport networks — none of which offer a simple postcode lookup. The Transport Connectivity endpoint resolves any UK postcode to its nearest transport nodes and calculates a proprietary Connectivity Score that commercial estate agents, logistics companies, and site selectors can use to compare locations instantly.
What You Get
- •Nearest stations: up to 5 closest transport nodes with name, type (rail, bus, metro, tram), and distance in metres
- •Connectivity Score (0-100): proprietary rating based on transport node density, type mix, and regional classification
- •Connectivity Rating: EXCELLENT / GOOD / MODERATE / LIMITED classification for quick comparison
- •Location context: resolved postcode with precise coordinates for further spatial analysis
Data Sources
DfT NaPTAN
The National Public Transport Access Node database maintained by the Department for Transport. Contains 400,000+ transport stops, stations, and access points across the UK including rail stations, bus stops, metro stations, tram stops, ferry terminals, and airport entrances. The definitive reference for public transport geography.
Postcodes.io (ONS)
Postcode to coordinate resolution with regional classification. Urban/rural indicators and region identification feed into the Connectivity Score weighting.
Scoring Algorithm
Connectivity Score
Composite based on proximity to transport nodes, diversity of transport types available, and regional baseline. London postcodes start from a higher baseline reflecting the density of the TfL network. Major cities (Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds, etc.) receive a secondary adjustment. The score enables like-for-like comparison across regions.
Use Cases
Commercial Site Selection
Retailers, restaurants, and service businesses choose locations based on footfall, which correlates strongly with transport connectivity. The Connectivity Score provides a single comparable number across candidate locations. An EXCELLENT-rated site justifies premium rent; a LIMITED-rated one may need car park investment.
Logistics & Distribution Planning
Last-mile delivery companies and warehouse operators need proximity to road networks and regional distribution hubs. The nearest station data and connectivity rating help identify optimal depot locations that minimise delivery times.
Employee Commutability Analysis
Companies choosing office locations assess whether employees can reach them. The transport endpoint shows which stations serve each candidate site. HR teams use this data to predict commute satisfaction and retention rates.
Property Valuation Models
Residential and commercial property valuers include transport links as a key pricing factor. The Connectivity Score adds a quantitative transport metric to automated valuation models (AVMs) that previously relied on subjective assessments.
Example
Request
curl -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \ "https://www.ukdatapi.com/api/v1/transport/EC2R%208AH?depth=standard"
Response
{
"data": {
"location": { "postcode": "EC2R 8AH", "coordinates": { "lat": 51.515, "lng": -0.089 } },
"nearest_stations": [
{ "name": "Bank", "type": "metro", "distance_m": 180 },
{ "name": "Liverpool Street", "type": "rail", "distance_m": 450 },
{ "name": "Moorgate", "type": "rail", "distance_m": 520 }
],
"connectivity_score": 95,
"connectivity_rating": "EXCELLENT"
}
}Pricing
| Depth | Credits |
|---|---|
| Summary | 3 |
| Standard | 8 |
| Full | 16 |
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